Pneumatic mechanism



l. OCON NOR.

PNEUMATIC MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-23. I917.

1,342,180; Patented June 1,1920.

Inventor: Jazncs OConnor his Attorney.

JAMESOCONNOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PNEUMATIC MECHANISM.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Application filed August 23,1917. Serial No. 187,772.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Janus OCoNNoR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, borough of h Ianhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Pneumatic Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to pneumatic mechanisms and particularly that class thereof which is employed for actuating the abstracts or other operative parts in player pianos. The object of my improvements is to provide a device of the class specified of high efficiency combined with simplicity of construction. in the particular embodiment which I. have chosen for illustration, I have shown my improvements applied to what is commonly known as a single primary and wherein I have produced a device having the efiiciency of a double primary.

Heretofore,-while player pianos have been constructed wherein small abstract actuating pneumatics were governed by single primaries respectively, suchplayerpianos are considered definitely inferior to instruments in which double primaries, are employed to actuate larger pneumatics. The single primary is inefficient in that its capacity is so limited that a relatively small actuating pneumatic must be employed therewith and which small pneumatic imposes various limitations upon the scope of usefulness of the player piano. ith the present accepted size oftracker apertures and note-sheet perforations, only a very limited amount ofair can be admitted through a tracker aperture to the primary pneumatic actuating diaphragm Within the brief time during which a minimum note-sheet perforation is in register with said tracker aperture. This so limits the power of said diaphragm as to restrict its efliciency to the operation of a valve of only very limited capacity and which limited capacity is insufficient to supply adequately alternate tension and air to any other than a very small actuating pneumatic. This feature of limitation is the reason for the employment, in the better grade of player pianos, of the double primary.

By the use of a double primary, the first portion thereof, commonly called the primary pneumatic, is efficient for actuating the second portion thereof, commonly called modification.

the secondary pneumatic and which secondary pneumatic is of suflicient capacity for operating the usual large actuating pneumatic with the requisite speed and power. But the double primary is obviously substantially twice as expensive in space, mechanism, liability to derangement and cost, as a single primary. Therefore, any means by winch a single primary may be :mcreased in efficiency to equal that of a double primary is obviously highly advantageous in the art.

In the drawings accompanying this specification is illustrated the preferred embodiment of my-improvements, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an actuating pneumatic governed by a single primary embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified arrangement of my improvements, and Fig.

3 is another similar view showing a further All. of the figurese are to one scale.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, an actuating pneumatic, represented at 2, is

provided with the usual toe piece 3 from which connection may be made by some Well 1 known means not shown, to the abstract or otheroperatmg part of a piano action.

Said actuating pneumatic may be conveniently attached to a wall of valve chamber 4-, and opening 5 is provided from said chamber to said pneumatic. Adjacent said valve chamber and connected therewith by opening 6 is tensionchamber 7. Air may be exhausted from said tension chamber through pipe 13 from some source of ex- .haust not shown. ()n the opposlte side of said valve chamber 4 and fixed to valve stem 9 is double acting valve 10 adapted for alternately closing openings 6 and 8.

Valve stem 9 maybe conveniently guided for movement in a line normal to the faces of openings 6 and 8 by brackets 11 and Adjacent tension chamber 7 is diaphragm box 14 having openings 15 connecting it with said chamber 7. i Openings 15 and 6 are opposite each other and the walls surrounding them respectively are parallel. Said opening 15 is closed by diaphragm 16, and button 17 of valve stem 9 rests upon disk 25 secured to said diaphragm. Said box 14 is connected by pipe 18 with one of the apertures in tracker bar 19 and is provided with vent 2 communicating with tension chamber 7. When air is admitted from the tracker aperture 24. through pipe 18 to box 141, diaphragm 16 is forced upwardly against the vacuum in tension chamber 7 and lifts valve stem 9, thus causing valve 10 to uncover opening 6 and cover opening 8.

To assist this action of diaphragm l6 and valve 10, I employ supplemental means illustrated in said Fig. 1 as comprising diaphragm 20 covering opening 21 above valve 10. Said opening 21 is connected by conduit 26 with tension chamber 7, and diaphragm 20 is exposed to the atmosphere on that side thereof facing valve 10. The upper end of valve stem 9 has secured thereto disk 22 which in turn is secured to said diaphragm 20. The effective area of diaphragm 16 is preferably about equal to that of the usual diaphragm employed in a single primary pneumatic and commensurate with the capacity of tracker aperture 24;. In the modification of Fig. 2, diaphragm 20 is located below valve 10 instead of above. as in Fig. 1, and is arranged to cover opening 21 leading from the outside air into diaphragm box 14. Said diaphragm 20 and opening 21 are arranged opposite diaphragm 1.6 and opening 15, and in line with valve stem 9. In this modification, diaphragms 16 and 20 are connected together at their lllltlCllO portions, preferably by a small disk 22, so that said diaphragms move in unison; and button 17 on the lower end of stem 9 rests upon or may be fixed to disk 25 fixed to diaphragm 16; also, because of the connecting up of said diaphragms, the effective area of diaphragm 16 would be reduced by an' amount equal to the effective area of diaphragm 20. "Therefore diaphragm 16 is increased in diameter over that of similar diaphragm 16 of: Fig. 1, to restore its effective area to that of the similar diapl'n'agm of said Fig. 1.

1n the mmlilication of Fig. 3, actuating pneumatic 2 is located within tension chamber 7 and is actuated by the admission of air thereto rather than by the exhausting of air therefrom, as in Figs. 1 and 2. This requires the reversal of the sizes of openings 15 and 21 and of the effective areas of the diaphragms thereover so that valve 10 will normally be held up to cover opening 8, thereby holding the actuating pneun'iatie n11- der tension. lVhen air is admitted to box 1%, diaphragm 20 is neutralized or partially neutralized and the effective area of valve 10 preponderating over that of diaphragm 16, said valve 10 is seated by atmospheric pressure over opening 6 and air is admitted to pneumatic 52, causing it to expand against the vacuum in chamber 7 and against light spring 27.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, valve chamber 4, ports 6 and 8 thereof, valve 10 for alternately closing those ports, and opening 5, are all of such size and capacity respectively as are adapted to alternately supply air and tension directly to the standard large double primary pneumatic represented at 2.

Whereas diaphragm 16, box 1%, pipe 18 and tracker opening 2%, are all of such small capacity and size respectively as are adapted for operating only the usual small single primary, and which small single primary has heretofore been employed to operate the second large primary, which in its turn alternately supplies air and tension to the large double primary pneumatic.

\Vhile valve 10 is arranged for actuation by diaphragm 16, said valve is too large to be actuated only by the power at command for moving that diaphragm. Therefore, said diaphragm 16, actuated by the air upon one side thereof against the vacuum in exhaust chamber is employed as primary means for supplying a portion of the power required for moving valve 10 from opening 6 against opening 8, and diaphragm 20 actuated by the air upon one side thereof against the vacuum in said chamber 7, is employed as secondary means for supplying the remaining portion of power required for thus moving said valve, and said primary and secondary means together are eflicient to actuate said valve as described. Thus by employing, as an assistant to the small single primary diaphragm 16 and its usual small accessories, secondary diaphragm 20, I provide means for increasing the efficiency of a single primary to that previously attained only with a double primary.

Such usual small single primary is limited at 6 and 8 to diameters of about one-quarter inch, and to a stroke of valve 10 of about one thirty-second of an inch. These port areas and valve stroke are the greatest that can be practically employed in connection with the present approved standard tracker aperture. By the use of my improvements 1 am able to operate valve 10 a stroke of one-sixteenth of an inch or more, and to close and open valve ports 6 and 8 of fiveeighths of an inch or more in diameter, and which valve stroke and port openings are eflicient to operate said large double primary pneumatic.

Another important feature of my improvements pertains to the limiting of the amount of air required to actuate, in Figs. 2 and 3, diaphragm 16. Any increase in the area of opening 15 and diaphragm 16 would normally require an increase in the amount of air admitted from the tracker to operate that diaphragm. But as the air admitted from the tracker is definitely limited, such additional air not available. The coupling up of diaphragms 16 and 20, where- Diaphragm 16 is employed as primary means for moving valve 10 in one direction, and dlaphragm 20 is employed as secondary or supplemental means for assisting sald diaphragm 16 to thus move said valve. In

the embodiment of my improvements illustrated herewith, diaphragm 20 is preferably under constant tension and potentially effective, but is operatively effective only when called upon to assist diaphragm lti, that is, when said diaphragm 16 is being actuated by the admission of air to box 14, and at such times said diaphragms are cooperatively effective for moving valve 10.

Furthermore, when air is cut off at the tracker from box 14, said box is exhausted from tension chamber 7 through vent therebetween, and box 14 and chamber 7 are then under equal or approximately equal tension, whereby diaphragm 16 therebetween is neutralized or nearly neutralized and made substantially non-effective in either direction. The effective area of supplemental diaphragm 20 is enough less than the effective area of valve 10 over opening 6 to permit said valve tobe closed promptly by atmospheric pressure against the resistance of said diaphragm, when diaphragm 16 is neutralized or partially neutralized.

While for purposes of comparison I have referred to several specific dimensions of various elements of my improvements, it will be clearly understood that I do not limit myself to those dimensions or to any dimensions, but that my improvements are applicable to an indefinite range of sizes and may be embodied in both smaller and larger mechanisms than those shown or referred to, so long as the essential features of arrangement of elements and approximate proportions are maintained.

Also while I have illustrated and described a simple and efficient form of means for actuating valve 10 as diaphragms 16 and 20, by the term diaphragm as herein used is meant any pouch, bellows or other pneumatically operated device capable of transmitting motion to a movable part.

By the term unitary as herein applied to the means for controlling diaphragm 16 or diaphragms 16 and. 20 is meant a single aperture in tracker 19 and a single connection therefrom to the single box 14.

I claim:

1. In a pneumatic mechanism the combination of a tracker having apertures therein, an actuating pneumatic, a double acting valve for alternately supplying air and tension to said pneumatic, primary meansfor actuating said valve to supply tension to said pneumatic, secondary means for assist-- ing said primary means, alternately acting means including a single tracker aperture directly connected with said primary for at one time causing said primary and said secondary means to act together and at another time for neutralizing said primary means, and means for actuating said valve to supply air to said pneumatic against the resistance of said secondary means when said primary means is neutralized.

2. In a pneumatic mechanism the combination of a diaphragmbox, unitary means .for admitting air to said box, a tension chamber adjacent said box, a diaphragm between said box and said chamber adapted to yield toward said chamber when air is admitted to said box, andmeans for compensating in said box for the air required to thus move said diaphragm.

3. In a pneumatic mechanism the combination of a diaphragm box, unitary means for admitting air to said box, a tension chamber adjacent said box, a diaphragm be tween said box and said chamber adapted to yield toward said chamber when air is admitted to said box, a diaphragm between said box and the outer air, and means for connecting said diaphragms whereby said second diaphragm is caused to move toward said box when said first diaphragm moves toward said chamber and thus compensates in said box for the air required to move said first diaphragm.

1. In a pneumatic mechanism the combination of an actuating pneumatic, a double acting valve for controlling said pneumatic, primary means for actuating said valve in one direction, secondary means for assisting said primary means, unitary means for actuating said primary means, means for actuating said secondary means, said secondary means being operatively effective only while said primary means is being actuated, and means for actuating said valve in the other direction.

5. In a pneumatic mechanism the combination of an actuating pneumatic, a clouble acting valve for alternately supplying air and tension to said pneumatic, primary means for actuating said valve to supply tension to said pneumatic, secondary means for assisting said primary means, alternately acting unitary means for at one time causing said primary and secondary means to act together and at another time for neutralizing said primary means, and means for actuating said valve-to supply air to said pneumatic against the resistance of said secondary means when said primary means is neutralized.

6. In a valve mechanism for an actuating pneumatic the combination of a diaphragm box, unitary means for alternately supplying air and tension to said box, a tension chamber adjacent said box, a diaphragm between said box and said chamber, a valve operably connected to said diaphragm, and a supplemental diaphragm between said box and the atmosphere also operably connected to said valve and arranged and adapted to assist said first mentioned diaphragm to operate said valve when air is admitted to said box.

'7. In a valve mechanism for an actuating pneumatic the combination of a tracker, a diz iphragm box directly connected with said tracker, a tension chamber adjacent said box, a diaphragm between said box and said chamber, a diaphragm between said box and the outer air and opposite to and connected with said first mentioned diaphragm, and a valve stem operably connecting both said diaphragms.

8. In a valve mechanism for an actuating pneumatic the combination of a diaphragm box, unitary means for alternately simplying air and tension to said box, a tension chamber adjacent said box, a diaphragm be-' tween said box and said chamber, a valve operably connected to said diaphragm, and a supplemental diaphragm operably connected to said first mentioned diaphragm and adapted and arranged for assisting the operation oi said valve when air is admitted to said box, the action of said first mentioned diaphragm being neutralized when tension is supplied to said box.

9. In a valve mechanism for an actuating pneumatic the combination of a diaphragm box, means for alternately supplying air and tension to said box, a tension chamber adjacent said box. a diaphragm between said box and said chamber, a valve operably connected to said d'ia niragin, said diaphragm being effective when air is admitted to said box to operate said valve in one direction, a supplemental diaphragm also operably connected. to said valve and arranged and adapted for assisting said first mentioned diaphragm to operate said valve as described, the admission of tension to said box being effective to neutralize the action of said first mentioned diaphragm, and the effective area of said supplemental diaphragm being less than the eitective area of said valve under equal pressures, and means for operating said valve in the other direction against the resistance of said supple mental diaphragm when said first mentioned diaphragm is neutralized.

Signed at New York, Bronx borou h, in the county of Bronx and State oi: New York, this 20th day ot August, 1917, before two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES OGONNtH? Witnesses ARTHUR Coxnow, A. l OLSEN. 

